The Side Hustlers

"I pretty much buy all the pieces with my own money, my personal finances are probably taking a loss for the first year."

Molly Chatterton, 23, has been working full time at an antique jewellery shop in Bristol for over a year. 

She launched The Merz, an online vintage clothing store that endorses eco-friendly packaging and carbon offset in November. 

Molly said: "I wanted to start The Merz because it was the natural step within my own sustainable journey and intertwined my own love for fashion and history. 

"I knew within my heart I wanted this brand to be kind to the planet, kind to others and kind to your purse."

For every sale, 10 percent is donated to Label Behind The Label, a charity that supports garment workers’ rights. 

Molly said: "I pretty much buy all the pieces with my own money. 

"Usually all the money goes back into the business, my personal finances are probably taking a loss for the first year."

Molly is confident her business can compete against fast fashion brands such as Pretty Little Thing and Boohoo.   

She said: "People are starting to revaluate themselves and their habits."

When restrictions are eased, Molly plans to shoot a street-style collection in London and is hoping to travel to Italy and Spain to source future pieces.   

"Last year has proved to me that anything can happen."

"We have got projects in the pipeline but whether we can go forward is corona dependent."

Hulda Adao, 22, moved to London this month to start a new job as a programmes officer in the charity sector.

She launched her business MoMa's Cookies in July with the help of friend Upenju Junior Joto.

Shortly after, Hulda was joined by business parter and Aunty, Katya Pires. 

MoMa's Cookies are an online bakery where a person can buy cookies with 25 percent of the profit donated to a local charity which is chosen by the advocates.

For the first year, all profits go back into the business.

Hulda said: "We have been very lucky as our service is online and we deliver our cookies nationwide, it has not affected us as much as it could have.

"We have got projects in the pipeline but whether we can go forward is corona dependent."

Hulda has adapted to the pandemic impact by collaborating with vegan influencers such as vegan.mollie and whatliaeats, to promote MoMa's Cookies on Instagram for the annual event Veganuary.

Hulda initially took on MoMa's Cookies full time but decided to gain more experience before going completely self-employed.

Katya works full time, is a masters student and a mother. 

She wakes up early in the morning to bake the cookies while Hulda will host meetings on her lunch breaks, after work and on the weekends.

Hulda said: "I am really grateful for every customer, every advocate but above everyone, for my incredible business partner who bakes away."

"At the beginning, it was pretty bad, we decided to launch two children’s educational books which was really nice."

Eleni Sophia, 22, launched the publishing company Perspective Press Global when she was at university after winning £8,000 from a GradVenture competition in 2019.  

Her business signs young aspiring writers under 20 years old and it is currently her full time job.

Two of Eleni’s own poems went viral when Kardashian sisters Khloe and Kourtney shared her work on Instagram.  

Eleni said: "Two weeks later my Instagram was going crazy."

Although she is based in London, Eleni signs writers from across the globe while her cover designer is based in Pakistan. 

Eleni said: "We are dealing with different time zones, and two writers are from Albania so it can be really difficult juggling everything."

One way Eleni sustained her business throughout the pandemic was by creating Alphabet Tracing with Alpacas and Ideas Out of This World. 

She adds: "At the beginning, it was pretty bad, we decided to launch two children’s educational books which was really nice.

"Kids were at home so could express their creativity and learn their abc’s."

The pandemic meant Eleni’s efforts to stock books in The Harrods Bookshop, yoga studios and independent cafés are on hold. 

She plans to have eight more authors signed by next year.